Happy Sunday

from Christ’s Corner

 

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

 

I am so glad that day Jesus passed my way. I really was blind and could not see spiritual things. I had observed the natural world and many things in it, but, I was still blind. I did not see why Jesus died for the sin of the world. I did not see Jesus rising from the dead in a physical body, and finally, I did not see how Jesus and GOD the Father and the Holy Ghost could be one GOD of all.

 

Since Jesus saved me more than forty two years ago I now can see, not very good, and not very clear, but this one thing I do know; Jesus loves me. Jesus saved and keeps me.

NOW, if you dispute that salvation by grace, Please tell me what happened to me!!!

 

Christian friends, don’t try to argue with nonbelievers. Just tell them about your own personal salvation experience and let them try to explain that. Always give Jesus the honor and glory for everything and HE lift you up.

If you are saved, tell it.

 

God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
e-mail= hill.walter19@yahoo.com

Happy Saturday

He is Preparing a Place

by Max Lucado

God’s purpose from all eternity is to prepare a family to indwell the kingdom of God. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God’s plotting for our good. In all the setbacks, He is ordaining the best for our future. Every event of our day is designed to draw us toward our God and our destiny. When people junk you in the pit, God can use it for good. When family members sell you out, God will recycle the pain. Falsely accused?  Utterly abandoned?  You may stumble but you will not fall.  You will get through this!

Not because you are strong, but because God is. Not because you are big, but because God is. Not because you’re good, but because God is. He has a place prepared for you!

Happy Friday

Help!

By Skip Heitzig

If you’ve ever been lost in a big city, you know what it’s like to feel helpless. You could get directions (“Go right at the corner, then go left at the next light, then go one mile until you get to an underpass…”), but that might just get you more lost.  How much better would it be to have someone say, “Come on, I’ll take you there”?

In John 14-16, when Jesus told the disciples He was going away, they probably felt lost. But He didn’t promise them help…He promised them a Helper. There’s a big difference, and I’d rather have the second!

Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17
). The Greek word for “helper,” parakletos, is so packed with meaning that it’s translated “comforter,” “counselor,” “advocate,” “encourager,” “friend,” and “intercessor” in various versions of the Bible. The Amplified Bible defines it as “one called to stand constantly by us, who is ready to take part in everything in which His help is needed.”

Here’s how the Holy Spirit helps us: He helps us understand the truth about God. He helps us testify about God to others. He helps us communicate with God in prayer. He helps us in our unity as believers. He helps us to be secure in our salvation.

Of course the subject of the Holy Spirit is too vast for a short devotional. (In fact, I’m writing a book on the Holy Spirit.) But here’s the main point I want to make: The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to draw everyone’s attention to Jesus Christ.

Let’s go back to that name that’s used several times in chapters 14-16, “the Spirit of truth.” In Greek it’s the spirit of THE truth. It’s not generic truth (like, two plus two equals four), it’s THE truth about Jesus Christ.

Who does the Spirit testify of? Jesus. What sin does He convict the world of? Not believing in Jesus. Who does He glorify? Jesus. Whose things does He take and declare to us? Jesus (see John 16:8-14 ). Like a stage director pointing the spotlight on the main actor, or like floodlights on a building at night, the Holy Spirit shines on Jesus Christ to help people see Him clearly!

Beware of any movement, or organization, or church that detracts from Jesus Christ by emphasizing the Holy Spirit! When people emphasize the Holy Spirit, they’re going after gifts, noise, and excitement. By doing that, they actually grieve the Spirit, who is pointing to Jesus.

As I said, there’s much more that could be said about the Holy Spirit, but focus on these words of Jesus: “He will glorify Me” (John 16:14 ). That’s the Holy Spirit’s work…and it’s ours too!

Happy Thursday

Stand

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13, NIV

Last month I was thinking about David; the shepherd boy who became king. I thought mainly of the battle he had to fight with Goliath. The scene was interesting as two armies stood on different sides of the valley facing each other. Saul and his men stayed in the valley of Elah listening to Goliath the Philistine mocking and trying to provoke them to fight. For forty days this went on. I have no idea what Saul was thinking. What was his plan of action? But as they waited David came to the battle field, a young man, full of potential, to stand against Goliath. Saul’s army was there but didn’t try to do anything. They sat passively listening for forty days. I imagine the rest of the Philistine army was cheering Goliath on. David probably knew he had the potential to fight Goliath, but he didn’t take pride in his own ability or strength. He courageously stood in God’s name against the enemy of Israel. When He came to the battlefield he didn’t sit passively with his brothers watching Goliath. He moved into action and took his stand.

Imagine his courage! He had no weapon on him except the five smooth stones and a sling. I think everyone must have gone silent when David moved forward to confront Goliath. Everyone was waiting to see if the Philistine would crush little David. But David, with a stone and sling, knocked the Philistine to the ground.

This is a great example for every child of God to follow. We’re in a battle field as long as we’re in this world. The more the end draws near, the fiercer the battle is. But our warfare is not against flesh and blood. We’re fighting a spiritual battle. The enemy knows his end is near, therefore: ‘For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

We’re part of a kingdom. We have a king who reigns forever on His throne. We’re His Ambassadors, but we’re also His army. So how do we fight this battle? ‘We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete’ (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

As God’s army we need to have our whole armour ready to stand against the devil and his schemes. Stand in prayer for your family, work, country and the area you live in, not being passive, but actively praying that God’s kingdom will come (in your area of influence). Don’t be afraid of Goliath but stand in God’s name for His Kingdom.

Prayer: Father, please help me to stand firm in Your Kingdom as an ambassador, and also as part of Your army. I look to You for strength to stand in the gap. Help me to seek Your will in every area of my life and all around me - my family, country, workplace, and everywhere You’ve placed me to stand for You. Amen.
Today's Writer : Joan Rono

Happy Wednesday

If you missed the Big News Tuesday, I repeat...

Good Morning and A HAPPY TUESDAY UPDATE,
My Prayer Sunday was that the injury to Grason's hip/ball joint would be simple and easy to fix... 

EVEN when I heard at the ER, the joint was dislocated, I was thankful, because I knew that the injury could have been worse... What I did not realize was that My LORD was not through with Grason...

• Just got word from Elaine...
• MRI Cancelled... Grason's Ball joint Not Dislocated...

• I repeat "Grason's Ball joint WAS NOT Dislocated"...

• Inflammation of the joint causing the pain... Ibuprofen for pain... Dr. to see him about noon to send him home... See Dr in a week and then back in SIX Months...

Dislocated one day... Two days later only Inflammation... Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!!

I didn't Pray for a miracle, but I got one... Shedding wonderful tears of JOY...

Love ya All and Thanks for the Prayers,
Your Brother In JESUS, the Risen Christ,
Bro. Richard

Were You There?

"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him." Luke 10:33-34, ESV

At the all age service in our church there was a lot of fun and a few laughs as the children were dressed up to act out the story of the Good Samaritan. The robbers leapt upon the traveller with great gusto and the Good Samaritan (little girl with a toy donkey head mounted on a pole) galloped at great speed up the aisle. She mimed pouring oil all over his body and then took him to the inn keeper to be looked after.

Then we sang a song ‘When I needed a neighbor were you there, were you there? When I needed a neighbor were you there? And the creed and the colour and the name won`t matter, Were you there?’ (Sydney Bertram Carter)

It was getting a bit more serious now. But when we finally watched a DVD of children in need receiving Christmas shoe boxes full of gifts it moved us all to tears. These children, living in Somali, were dancing and singing with excitement, laughter and joy as their faces lit up with smiles. The gifts were simple enough, a pretty scarf, a party blower, a soft toy, a book, a little toy car. Children in our own country will receive much more expensive and sophisticated toys, probably electronic goods.

Christians had had compassion on children who had endured suffering, hardship and grief, losing the innocence of childhood. They just wanted to give some moments of childhood back to them again to demonstrate how God the Father cares. So often we want to do things like this but don’t know where to start.

We are to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves. These are the two great commandments. The lawyer questioned Jesus by asking ‘who is my neighbour?’ (Luke 10:29). But he was asking the wrong question. He should have asked how he could be a loving neighbour.

Jesus told a story that was shocking in its challenge to all. It would have been unthinkable for a Samaritan to help a Jew, and yet this Samaritan was going the extra mile to show unconditional love and compassion. All this to a person he would not normally have had any relationship with.

It’s like that in the healing ministry as we open our doors to those in need. Sometimes we pray for Jesus to restore the lost innocence of childhood which was stolen away and for the missing joy and laughter to be replaced.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask that you would use us in reaching out to the hurting and the wounded in the name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.

Today's Writer : Liz Griffin

Happy Tuesday

Good Morning,
Grason is at Children's Hospital in New Orleans... Bed rest, Pain Medication, & Observation... MRI Tuesday and Physical Therapy to learn to walk with crutches... I think we are somewhere between Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis and Transient Synovitis... The first requires surgery and the second is treatable... 

Elaine and Kim are staying the night with Grason...
Happy Reading,
Richard

Good Morning and HAPPY TUESDAY UPDATE,
___My Prayer Sunday was that the injury to Grason's hip/ball joint would be simple and easy to fix...
___EVEN when I heard at the ER, the joint was dislocated, I was thankful, because I knew that the injury could have been worse... What I did not realize was that My LORD was not through with Grason...

• Just got word from Elaine...
• MRI Cancelled... Grason's Ball joint Not Dislocated...

• I repeat "Grason's Ball joint WAS NOT Dislocated"...

• Inflammation of the joint causing the pain... Ibuprofen for pain... Dr. to see him about noon to send him home... See Dr in a week and then back in SIX Months...

___Dislocated one day... Two days later only Inflammation... Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!! Thank You LORD!!!

___I didn't Pray for a miracle, but I got one... Shedding wonderful tears of JOY...

Love ya All and Thanks for the Prayers,
Your Brother In JESUS, the Risen Christ,
Bro. Richard

Prayer "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1b, NKJV Why is it we find it so difficult to pray?! I am writing this Seed partly to myself because I struggle as much as anybody – particularly when, as now, I am going through quite a difficult time as I try to come to terms with loss and I find concentration difficult. It is said that Satan trembles when Christians get on their knees, and we know this, but even so, the prayer meetings are often the least well-attended of any meetings in church. We have recently been encouraged to begin prayer cells in our church, but so far there are very few. Maybe some find it hard to pray, or feel embarrassed to pray out loud, in front of others, but Jesus says: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them’. Prayer is most powerful when we pray with one another and I find it encouraging. Is it perhaps that we often don’t see an immediate answer to our prayers? We live in an age when communication is instant with emails, mobiles and texting, but we know from past experience that God frequently doesn’t answer our prayers immediately. We think it would be wonderful if He did but He always knows the best timing for us. It may also be that what we are praying for is not in His will and it sometimes helps when we pray using Scriptures. Smith Wigglesworth, who had a wonderful ministry in the north of England at the turn of the last century, was once asked how often he prayed. His answer was that he never prayed for more than half an hour at a time, but that he never went for more than half an hour without praying – in other words he was in constant touch with the Lord. There is no getting away from it: prayer is hard work, but if we are to be effective in our Christian walk we have to stick at it, and even if we don’t have an answer straight away we should be persistent, as Jesus encouraged us in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Prayer: Father God, there are many times when I struggle to pray. I long to have a deeper relationship with You, but somehow I find it hard. Thank You for Your patience with me, and please help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Today's Writer : Angela Weir

Happy Monday

Good Morning,

     Spent several hours in the St. Tammany ER Sunday... My Grandson Grason (almost 6) dislocated his left hip... He is home, but in a lot of pain... We will hear from an Orthopedic Surgeon Monday... He may have to go to Children's Hospital in New Orleans for the necessary surgery... 

     We're praying for a quick and complete recovery...

Richard 

 

Find and Replace

By Karen Ehman

"... throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

There's a nifty editing tool on my computer called "find and replace." It allows me to locate an existing word and exchange it for one more suited to the meaning of my sentence.

At times I wish I had such a feature on my brain; a "find and replace" option that would help me keep my thoughts in a healthy place and in line with God's Word. Especially when it comes to setting my own agenda and getting my own way. (Better known as selfishness.)

Even though I can't press a button and instantly swap out my old thoughts for new ones, I can still apply this "find and replace" process to my sometimes-selfish line of thinking.

When tempted to throw a pity party with only ourselves on the guest list—because let's face it, no one fancies the company of a whiner—let's replace our negative notions with insight from God's Word.

Here are some "find and replace" examples to help pull a selfishness switch-a-roo. When we find ourselves thinking one of the thoughts listed in bold, let's replace it with what God says in the verse that directly follows it.

"If I don't look out for myself, who will?"

"What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7 NLT)

"What about my rights?"

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (Philippians 2:5-7a NLT)

"I'm entitled to my opinion."

"Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, 'If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.'" (1 Peter 3:9-11 NLT)

"I gotta look out for number one."

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3-5 ESV)

"Who cares about them? It's all about me."

"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:9-11 NLT)

"But what about what I want?"

"Carefully determine what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:10 NLT)

How about it? Could your thought patterns benefit from some "find and replace" therapy? It is sure to center our minds on God and, as a result, make our relationship with Him—as well as with others—healthier, happier and whole. Let's pursue an unselfish and God-pleasing attitude. Find and replace.

Dear Lord, at those times I'm tempted by selfishness, may I align my thinking with Your will and Your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Sunday the 13th

When I Get in a Twit

 By Lysa TerKeurst

"Remember my affliction and my bitterness, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:19-23 (RSV) 
 

Recently, my husband made the decision to have a tree cut down in our front yard. He'd consulted with a professional who told him the tree was sick and a storm could cause the tree to break and fall. Plus, this tree had been dropping these prickly gumball things that drive my husband crazy.

So, with one swift decision and a few strong men, the tree was gone.

I wasn't in any of the conversations about the tree.

I didn't know it was sick.

I didn't know it could fall during a storm and damage our home or our cars.

I didn't mind the prickly gumball things.

All I knew was I walked out my front door and a tall, lovely, shade-providing tree was just chopped down. My heart seized at the sight. What in heavens? I called my husband in a panic.

His calm and reassuring explanation didn't make me feel better. Every time I looked outside, all I could see was the stump. The gaping hole in the typical landscape of our front yard. The shade that was missing.

I couldn't stop thinking about it, and before I knew it I was in a twit! Hyper focused on what was missing, I couldn't appreciate the bigger picture.

We live out in the country and have countless trees all around our house. Lots and lots of trees. But the more I got all in a twit about that one tree that was gone, the less I noticed all the others.

Distracted by one wrong thing, I missed out on seeing many right things.

I think this is a tactic the evil one uses against me. Against you. Against us.

The devil loves to get us to focus on the little that's wrong so we miss the big picture of all that's right.

Recently I noticed something in Lamentations chapter 3 verses 19-23 that gave me a new strategy. Look how the writer's depressing outlook turns around when he intentionally calls better things to mind:

"Remember my affliction and my bitterness, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." (RSV)

So today when I'm tempted to get in a twit and start focusing on something that's wrong, I'll stop myself and say, "but" ... and then start listing things that are right.

My front yard is missing a tree, BUT ... my husband has promised to plant a new one. One that isn't sick and doesn't drop prickly things.

My husband didn't talk to me about the tree before it was chopped down, BUT ... he was being my family's protector. One who cares enough to just take care of what needs to be taken care of. One that I can trust.

I have a tendency to get in a twit about little things, BUT ... today is a new day with new possibilities. And I'm going to try to remember all that is right instead of focusing on the little that may be wrong.

Dear Lord, I want to follow Your teaching and focus on the blessings You have placed in my life. Please help me learn to look through Your lens and to see today as a new day full of Your mercies. Mercies for me, and mercies for others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Saturday

Keep Your Head Right

Pastor Stephen Brown taught swimming and diving for a number of years. He tells about a young boy named Billy. Billy had watched so many professional divers and wanted so much to dive like them that he refused to take time to learn the basics. Time after time Brown tried to help Billy see that the most important thing about diving was to keep his head in the proper position. If his head entered the water properly, Brown explained, the rest of his body would enter the water properly–at least, more properly than it had been.  Billy would dive into the pool, do a belly flop, and come up grinning, “Mr. Brown,” he would shout, “Were my feet together?” “Billy, I don’t care whether your feet were together or not,” Brown shouted back. “Make sure your head is straight, and then everything else will work out.”

The next time Billy would stand on the edge of the pool and really concentrate. Then he would dive and, once again, make a mess of it. “Mr. Brown, were my hands together?” “Billy,” Brown would groan in frustration, “I’m going to get you a neck brace and weld it onto your head. For the hundredth time, if your head is right the rest of you will be right. If your head is wrong, the rest of you will be wrong.” 

And isn’t that true in all of life? If our head is wrong, our marriage will probably suffer. If our head is wrong, our priorities will be fouled up. If our head is wrong, it may even affect our health in a negative way. God understands our distress and God seeks to make us new persons so that we can handle our distress more effectively. 

Happy Friday

Running on Empty

Glynnis Whitwer

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

People often ask me, "How do you handle it all?"

Depending on the situation, I answer in a variety of ways:

1. I'm wired this way. And that's partly true. I have a God-wired ability to stay focused in the midst of chaos ... most of the time. I'm more left-brained than my husband, and he's an engineer!

2. I stay organized ... most of the time. Usually, I can find what I need when I need it. Usually, I prepare in advance. There are times when life gets the best of me, and someone wears the same socks two days in a row. But systems and schedules help me stay on top of responsibilities.

3. My kids are older. We still have issues that derail my best-laid plans, but they're different than when my kids were toddlers and one tried to use my car keys to unlock the back gate, dropping them in the alley by accident. That threw me into a meltdown of monumental proportions.

But when people ask "How do you handle it all?" it's usually when I've shared something that has changed my life more than anything else. An act of obedience my family made eight years ago has pushed me to the edge of myself, made me question who I am and question God about His choice of me for this assignment. But it's also made me cling to Him with more desperation than ever before. What is it?

Adopting two little girls from Africa.

I haven't written much about these challenges due to respecting my family's privacy. And I also don't want to discourage adoptive parents with how hard our journey has been. It's one of the most important things I've ever done. But also the most costly.

In 2005 we adopted two girls, ages 8 and 10, from war-torn Liberia. We knew nothing about their background, other than it contained deprivation even other poor countries don't experience. No running water, no electricity, no school, no exposure to books or even television. Just basic existence for years.

Welcoming these little girls into our family at first seemed easy. They responded well to our love. They thrived with good food and education. But very soon we realized challenges. And then very sad truths about what happened in Africa started being uncovered.

One daughter has cognitive challenges that will impact her ability to live independently the rest of her life, and ours. With the other we faced behavioral challenges-significant issues based on an early history of neglect and abuse.

Sometimes there are Hallmark-channel-endings, but that's not our story. We live every day with our daughters' wounds and challenges. And these hardships have deeply affected me and my husband. They have affected our three biological children.

Here's what I've discovered: all my God-wired ability to think through chaos, all my attempts at organization and having older kids didn't prepare me for this.

But God's strength did.

So how do I manage it all? Every day I turn to God and rely on what 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches me ...

I don't have it in me to do this one more day, I need Your strength.

I don't have the patience in me for this … I need Your patience.

I can't think straight right now ... I need Your clarity.

I'm not even sure I have love in me right now ... I need Your love.

And I get my portion for that day. I get just enough strength, patience, and clarity to make it through. And a new definition of love that's stronger and tougher and more determined than I have ever experienced.

I wish I could write more about my family's story, and maybe someday I will. But for now, it's brought me to my knees; it's made me more humble; it's made me less judgmental, and it's made me depend on God more than ever.

God's strength is enough. But I had to get to the end of mine to learn that.

Heavenly Father, although I didn't know I'd be facing my current challenges, You did. Thank You for offering to step in the gap between my needs and my insufficient reservoir of strength with Your peace, wisdom, strength and love. Help me to lean on You when I feel like things are falling apart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Thursday

“Sharing the Wonder”

John 4:27-30

When God blesses you with a “teaching moment,” give it away as quickly as you can so someone else can be blessed by it. That is what the Samaritan woman did when she shared the wonder of her visit with Jesus at the well.

And that is what my eleven year old third cousin did. If you want to know how to pass it forward when Jesus blesses you, take notes from Joseph:

“Me and my dad were driving down the road and an eighteen-wheeler avoided something in the road. (It was one of those little ramps that you put on a trailer.) The car tail-gating the truck was not paying attention and he hit the ramp in the road. Luckily my dad saw it flying about 10 feet in the air. He turned left because it was heading for me. He yelled at me; I didn’t know what he was saying but I had a feeling he wanted me to duck. When I ducked I heard a BANG!!! The right mirror was completely wiped out…that’s a lot of force and then it dented and scratched all down the RV and bent the steel piece that holds up the awning. If my dad did not see the piece of steel hurdling towards us I could have been decapitated. I’m really thankful to God that my dad saw it.”

I am impressed that Joseph learned to give God the glory at such a young age.

That’s all witnessing is, just sharing what God has done for you. The Samaritan woman only told what she had experienced and a village was evangelized. She was amazed that Jesus could see into her heart as no one else could, and she shared her experience with others. No discovery is complete until it fills your heart to the overflow mark, and you are then compelled to give it away.

Many who read the story of Joseph’s brush with death will be moved by it. And some will search their hearts to discover moments in life when Jesus has made a difference. When you share that information with someone else, it will bless them as much as you have been blessed by reading Joseph’s powerful story. Then do as he did, and give God the credit. You will never know how important your willing testimony means to someone until you share it.

GospeLines Prayer: Father, thank you for Joseph, who reminds us that “to God we give the glory for all things;” from his words, inspire us to share the many wonders which happen to us every day, so others can know You as we do. Amen and amen.

Tommy Harrison
tommy@gospelines.com

Happy Wednesday

Credit or Debit

By Skip Heitzig

There’s the story of a frog that fell into a pail of milk. He tried to jump out, but the sides were too high. So he just paddled around and around in the milk. Eventually it was churned into butter, and he was able to jump out and free himself. It’s a cute story, but it illustrates what a lot of people think salvation is like: “Just keep paddling, do your best, and you’ll get to heaven.”

How much different is the truth found in the Bible! Chapter 4 of Romans is a wonderful explanation of justification by faith, and I invite you to ponder it. I want to focus on one verse: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

The fact is, righteousness doesn’t come by the Law, or by baptism, or by joining a church, or by any self-effort…but by faith! “Accounted” in this verse is the Greek word logizomai. It’s a banking term, and it means to apply something to one’s credit.

Picture a financial ledger. There’s a debit side and a credit side. Abraham, with his pagan background, was spiritually bankrupt. His ledger was packed on the debit side, with nothing on the credit side. But the moment he said, “I believe you, God,” God changed the ledger and wrote “righteous” on the credit side.

So it is with us. On our debit side is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). On our credit side, we try to put “works,” “religion,” “church,” “baptism,” “good deeds,” etc. But the credit of all those things isn’t enough to match the debit. “The wages of sin is death”
(Romans
6:23). “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).

The point is, for there to be enough on the credit side, somebody had to die. So God sent Jesus to die for us. It’s as if God calculated the total number of sins that you individually (and the world as a whole) would ever commit, and He decided that the shed blood of His Son was adequate payment for it all!

So if you believe—not in your works, but in His finished work—the credit side of your ledger reads “righteous.” It’s “not of works, lest anyone should boast”
(Ephesians 2:9). Abraham isn’t the “father of those who work,” he is “the father of all those who believe…that righteousness might be imputed to them also”
(Romans 4:11).

We are saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we trust in that, God says, “I receive you. I declare you righteous.” Sovereign, holy God credits sinful man with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

We’re not left to paddle on our own. God’s wonderful accounting system has made a way for us!

Copyright © 2012 by Connection Communications. All rights reserved.

Happy Tuesday

Sorry about the delay... Seems I had it set to post at 7:27AM instead of 12:30AM... I'll try to do better...
Happy Reading,
Richard 
The Company You Keep

Our moms and dads could be pretty picky about the kinds of friends we hung around with. They understood it doesn't always take much persuasion, even for the best of kids, to turn innocent fun into risky behavior. Being with the right people, they knew, makes peer pressure a good thing.

But peer pressure isn't something that automatically ends when we take on adult responsibilities. Just because we're not teenage boys being dared to drive too fast or stay out too late, that doesn't mean we're not influenced by the grown-up friends we keep. People we go hunting with and meet for lunch can still hold significant weight on what we do, think, and say, and what we consider to be normal.

That's why we need friends who make us want to be more like Jesus. Men who have deep convictions and compassionate hearts. Men who don't have a church side and a public side. Men who love their wives and invest in their kids. Men who make us want to be even more sold-out and godly, not the kind who convince us, whether out loud or by a certain look, that we're taking this Christian life too seriously.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," the Bible says
(Proverbs 27:17). If peer pressure is something we can expect to have around for a long time, we'd better be sure we've got some guys around us who help us want to become everything we ought to be.

Pray this prayer: Father, I'm thankful for the friends of mine who bring out the best in me. And for those who don't, would you give me the courage to cut back on the time I spend with them?

Happy Monday

Kindness

While traveling from one city to the next, a man was overtaken by robbers. Taking his clothes and possessions, they left him badly beaten. Not long after the attack, a priest traveled the same road. He passed by without stopping. Then another traveler saw the man but did not offer to help.

Finally, someone stopped—a Samaritan. He put bandages on the man's wounds and took him to an inn for the night. The next day he gave the innkeeper money and instructions to take care of the wounded man.

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is a wonderful example of godly kindness. It also demonstrates that kindness often requires something of us—time, plans, privacy, and desires. The Good Samaritan interrupted his travel plans to help a stranger. What better example to follow than that of Christ? He gave us the ultimate gift of kindness—He died that we might live.

However, we cannot learn to be kind simply by disciplining ourselves. Kindness can be hard work, and from time to time, this may mean that we have to face difficult situations that drain us emotionally and physically.

Often kindness cannot grow apart from conflict and strife. We learn to be kind through the kindness of others, but we also learn a greater kindness when we are called to be kind and caring in difficult situations.

A disagreement with a co-worker, spouse, friend, or family member can tempt us to be abrupt or uncaring. Circumstances appear out of focus and God's fruit of kindness becomes lost in the battle. However, through the power of Christ we are able to act in kindness even toward those who hurt us. Is there someone who needs your kindness today?

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

Happy Sunday

The best thing most of us can do in this world!

(J.R. Miller, "Help for the Day")

There are a few people whom God calls to do great things for Him. The best thing most of us can do in this world, is just to live out a real, simple, consecrated, Christian life in our allotted place. Thus, in our little measure, we shall repeat the life of Christ Himself, showing men some feeble reflection of His sweet and loving face; and doing in our poor way, a few of the beautiful things He would do if He were here Himself.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:11-13

Happy Saturday

Sorry About Friday's Devotional... Not sure where My mind was... I thought today was Thursday... Friday did not register with me until now... So I am posting early for Saturday...
Happy Reading,
Richard

STOMPING ANTS by Steve May
ROMANS 12:1

Clinical neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen says, "Don't believe everything you hear -- even in your own mind."

Most of the negative things we "hear" in a given day are never spoken audibly. They're the things we say to ourselves.

Dr. Amen refers to them as ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts. We all have them: "This won't work. This deadline won't be met. God isn't listening to my prayer. I can't follow this diet. I can't get organized." And on and on.

Dr. Amen tells us that we need to get in the habit of stomping these ANTs, and replacing them with positive, uplifting thoughts. It's a difficult habit to develop, but the believer has an advantage. You've got God on your side. You know that he has plans for you, that he has given you a future and a hope, that he is causing all things to work together for good so that he can finish the work he began in you. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6)

This means that you can turn an ANT into an ACT -- an Automatic Christ-like Thought. Instead of telling yourself the worst all day long, remind yourself that God is in control, that his arm is not too short to save, and that he will lead you where you need to go.

The result is that this Automatic Christ-like Thought really does become an ACT ... because what you think ultimately leads to what you do.

That's why Paul said...

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:1)

New thoughts lead to new actions. New actions lead to transformation. So spend the day stomping ants and replacing them with acts. --SM

Happy Thursday

Making the First Thing the First Thing

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I believe in church attendance, but if your relationship with the Lord and with others is suffering, then you need to stay at home and get on your face before God.

Sometimes a businessman will get very prosperous in his business—and at first it seems a good thing. He tells his wife, “Honey, you know how I couldn’t give you much when we got married? Well, now I can.” But soon the pursuit of a nice home and nice things consume him. A sadness descends upon his wife and children, and they lament, “Oh, Daddy….Oh, Husband…what we would give to just have you spend time with us.”

ACTION POINT:
What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus. Stop the cycle today. If you know you’re a workaholic, stop it. If you know your walk is far from God, get it right.

Confession of a Work-A-Holic:
___One does not have to be a Business Person to stay immersed in their work, it is so easy as just an employee to spend hours after their shift has ended, finishing up a few things they missed, to doing a little extra work as a sort of Job Preservation... 

___It is so easy for an employee to give a little extra here and there until it is soon expected... Minutes soon became hours, and then the calls start coming at home, invading your only day off with things that need to to be done at work... Most times, It's not even your job, but the boss knows you will do it anyway... In Your Mind, To say NO, would be job suicide... 

___Over the years, the time you could have spent with family is lost... Children grow up and start their families... Their priorities change and now that you have the time to spend with them, they are not around... 

___48 of my 66 years has been spent working... And as I look back, most of what I provided was a roof over the heads of my family, clothes on their backs and food in their bellies... Something I could have done with any 40 hour a week job... 

___Where most people are looking forward to retiring, I do not...


Family time is NOW... 
Tomorrow is not a Guarantee...

Happy Wednesday

Quietness and Assurance

 Part 2 of 2

 By Ike T. Sidebottom

"The full assurance of understanding" means a spiritual understanding of at least
Seven Outstanding Facts
upon which the believer's safety and security rests.

1.   The finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). On the day of His resurrection, "By His own blood He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12). See 1 John 5:11-13.
2.   The present work of Christ at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is the believer's "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1). When we sin He represents us, pleading His own blood for our forgiveness.
3.   The Father's faithfulness to His Son in answer to His prayer. The Son prayed, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me" (John 17:11). We know that the Father heard this prayer (John 11:42); therefore, we know He must grant the petition (1 John 5:14-15).
4.   The specific promises of God have been made and He cannot lie. He has spoken concerning His own, saying, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27-28). See also Philippians 1:6 and Romans 8:31-39.
5.   The choice of God the Father could not have been a blunder on his part. We are told that all the saved people of this age were "chosen" in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4). We were chosen to fit into that "holy temple" of Ephesians 2:19-22. Do you think He would build us into the structure and then have to tear us out?
6.   The sealing of the Holy Spirit was "until" a specified time; namely, the "redemption of the purchased possession" (Ephesians 1:13-14). The saint, or saved person, is sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment he is saved. That moment he becomes the purchased property of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The seal of the Spirit is God's mark of ownership upon the saint until he is redeemed or taken in body and soul into God's glory.
7.   The believer's union with Christ is such that could never be broken. God, Himself, adds each believer to the Lord (Acts 5:14 with I Cor. 12:13 and 27), and "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, or anything taken from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14)."The church, which is the body of Christ," is an organism, like a human body; and not an organization, like a legislative body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Each saved person has been baptized, by the Holy Spirit, into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and is an essential member of that organism (Ephesians 5:29-30).
God tells us how He adds His blood bought children to the church of the one body; but He doesn't say anything about taking a disobedient child out of that body. Just one missing member, in the day of our glorification, would violate the truth set forth in Ephesians 5:25-27.
"The full assurance of hope" can never be realized apart from faith and understanding. Hope has to do with the unseen future (Romans 8:24-25).
In Hebrews 6:10-12, the believer is admonished to minister diligently "unto the end," and follow "them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
In Colossians 1:24-27 the believers are reminded of Paul's "sufferings" for them and for "His body's sake, which is the church." He declared this dispensation to be a mystery, which had been "hid from ages and from generations." Then He makes it clear that God, who gave him the mystery was through him, making it "manifest to His saints." God wants the saints to know the "glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which, is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This hope will be realized when our Lord calls for the "church which is His body."
Let us not get our "hope" mixed with that of Israel or that of the Bride. Our hope is not resting upon the "promises made unto the fathers;" because this dispensation was hid from past ages and generations. We are not holding out to "the end." We are waiting for the glory. Keep looking up! He may come for us any moment.
Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for righteousness, the work of which is peace, and the effect of which is "quietness and assurance for ever."

Happy Tuesday

Quietness and Assurance

Part 1 of 2

By Ike T. Sidebottom

The world is in chaos and disturbance. Doubt and anxiety is manifested among the multitudes. Even the seasoned saints are not always confident and quiet before the Lord.

How can the human heart have "quietness and assurance" in the midst of worldwide disorder? God answers our question in the language of our text.

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever" (Isaiah 32:17).

Such righteousness must be imparted to us from God through His Son, Jesus Christ. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), but His righteousness is perfect, and brings to the trusting soul peace, quietness and assurance.

The heavenly Father wants us to have His peace and glorify His name through a quiet and confident life of faith.

Our Gentile Fathers
had their opportunity to know God and to glorify His name, but they refused to do so; and "their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:18-23). Wherefore:

"God gave them up to uncleanness" (Romans 1:24).

"God gave them up to vile affections" (Romans 1:26).

"God gave them over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28).

The moral and spiritual apostasy into which they drifted is pictured in Romans 1, verses 29 to 32, Read these verses and see the Gentile world "guilty before God."

What About the Jew?
He is no better. The Jews had the advantage in every way: "Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles, of God" (Romans 3:l-2). However, "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, they are all under sin" (Romans 3:9).

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).

The Gentile's mouth having been "stopped" by his guilt as revealed in Romans 1:18-32, and God's perfect law having "stopped" the mouth of the Jew, who was under the law, "every mouth" was stopped and "all the world" became "guilty before God."

"What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit" (Romans 8:3-4).

The law was never given that men should be made righteous by their own good works; on the other hand, God gave the law that man might have a scriptural "knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).

"As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." Why is this true? Because "It is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:21-22).

God's perfect law demanded more than fallen man could deliver. That is why the "righteousness of God without the law is manifested, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Romans 3:21-22).

This very righteousness of God is imparted to every one who is really trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. God the Father "made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

O blessed truth! Marvelous grace.
God's dear Son has taken my place.
In His own body He bore all my sin.
Now I am infinitely righteous in Him.

"Full Assurance"
is used three times over in the Word:

"The full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22).

"The full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2).

"The full assurance of hope" (Hebrews 6:11).

"Full assurance of faith" was exercised by Paul when he said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). We cannot exercise faith without knowing it. If we have faith in the soundness of the bank in which we deposit our money, that faith gives us confidence concerning the safety of our deposit and we feel at ease about it.

The one reason why so many believers lack the "full assurance of faith" is due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. Once the believer thoroughly understands the revealed facts upon which his safety in Christ is resting, he becomes quiet and confident about his soul's salvation.

continued tomorrow >>>>>>